Visited the Airbus A380 plant and the Ailes Anciennes in Toulouse last weekend flying from the UK to Blagnac in a pals Be36 Bonanza. The A380 plant is impressive. Saw 6 A380's, two of which were company, two of which were SIA underconstruction (one MSN0019), and parked externally one Qantas (MSN0026)? and one Emirates. What was noticable was the amount of Kingfisher heavy metal parked on site including A320's, A330 and A340

The museum turned out to be the real gem, largely thanks to a superb personal guided tour by a long retired French Air Force Officer, who recounted great stories of flying the many French and American 50’s and 60’s military aircraft on site. Got to sit in the captains seat of Caravelle 10B F-GMHU, which is undergoing restoration.

What a beautiful aircraft. Looking out of those triangular windows made me pine for the now long lost true jet age. If you’re an aviation buff, this place is a must.

Anyway, I digress.

On the way back we routed via Bordeaux to re-fuel, the highlight of which was I got to see my first ever Dassault Mercure. The aircraft, in full Air Inter colours, was parked forlornly on a remote stand to the North of runway 23. I wondered if anyone out there in airliners.net world knows the status of this aircraft? Is it on a fire dump, awaiting restoration or perhaps break-up. It was partnered by the obligatory Caravelle and also an engineless A300 which I assume was an early B2 or B4.

I note that the Conservatoire de l'Air et de l'Espace d'Aquitaine lists a Mercure in its collection (F-BTTF), but this aircraft seemed to be standing alone on a part of the airfield which did not look accessible to the public.

The one you pictured is F-BTTF.
msn 6.
Started commercial services on Nov. 27th 1974.
Retired from service on Sept. 1st 1994 after 35341 hours of flight and 42300 cycles.
It is preserved by the Conservatoire de l'Air et de l'Espace d'Aquitaine.

The second Mercure stored at BOD is just a few hundred meters from the previous one. It is F-BTTI.
msn 9
Started commercial services on April 3rd 1975.
Retired from service on Dec. 31st 1994 after 35631 hours of flight and 42462 cycles.
It belongs now to the Institut de Maintenance Aéronautique.